2nd man pleads guilty in killing of suburban cat

A second man pleaded guilty in Onondaga County Court today to killing a suburban family's cat by setting it on fire.

Dustin Gauger, 20, listing addresses in Elbridge and Port Byron, pleaded guilty before Judge Anthony Aloi to a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals, admitting he acted together with Kyle Custer to tie up the cat, douse it with gasoline and set it ablaze Dec. 20.

"This is one of the most gruesome offenses I can imagine," Aloi told Gauger, promising him the maximum sentence of two years in prison. Aloi said state lawmakers should enhance the penalties for such crimes.

"Two years is not sufficient for crimes like this," the judge said, noting people who commit such crimes against animals are likely to commit crimes of violence against people as well.

Aloi promised the sentence would be served concurrently with a one- to three-year sentence Gauger recently received in Cayuga County Court for a burglary conviction. The judge noted the disposition of the cat-killing case does not resolve unrelated statutory rape charges in which Gauger is accused of sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl.

Staff writer Jim O'Hara provided this report.

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